From the Publisher: Helping graduates run with the wind

A long line of sailboats recently stretched to the western horizon at the Straits of Mackinac. Upbound as part of the Chicago to Mackinac Race, the boats struggled to make headway in very light winds. Some wise skippers deployed spinnakers to take advantage of every small bit of the light winds blowing toward the finish line ...

Comment

By Gary Lamberg, Publisher of The Evening News

Sault Ste. Marie Evening News - Sault Ste. Marie, MI

By Gary Lamberg, Publisher of The Evening News

Posted Jul. 24, 2013 at 9:00 AM

By Gary Lamberg, Publisher of The Evening News

Posted Jul. 24, 2013 at 9:00 AM

A long line of sailboats recently stretched to the western horizon at the Straits of Mackinac. Upbound as part of the Chicago to Mackinac Race, the boats struggled to make headway in very light winds. Some wise skippers deployed spinnakers to take advantage of every small bit of the light winds blowing toward the finish line near Mackinac Island.

Spinnakers are large sails used to boost sail area and speed. They are particularly valuable when conditions are less than ideal and a sailboat skipper needs an extra edge in competition. Spinnakers make it easier for sailboats to run with the wind.

Somehow seeing all those beautiful spinnakers deployed made me think about the students that have recently graduated from high school and the less than ideal conditions they inherit as they head out to new schools and new possibilities. Somehow we need to offer these kids a form of spinnaker to help them on their way. Given the challenges they face they will need an extra edge to run with the winds of an uncertain economy.

Put yourself in the position of someone leaving high school to go on to college or enter the workforce. Times are tough. Jobs are scare. Manufacturing jobs are nearly nonexistent. Most service sector jobs don't pay squat. The trades seldom offer opportunities for apprenticeship programs. And the military is becoming less of an option with shrinking defense spending.

The effective cost of college for many kids just doubled this month with the increase in interest rates for most student loans. Student loan debt has already surpassed consumer debt and is likely to increase…a lot. And college tuition keeps going up — much faster than other cost of living categories, making the need for borrowing greater.

So what can we do for these kids? What type of "spinnaker" can we give them to boost their opportunities in less than ideal economic conditions?

First, we need to lower the cost of higher education and make credit more affordable. College costs are being driven by administrative expense — something that mostly doesn't increase the quality of the education and which should be controllable. And the availability of low cost student loans continues to be critical.

Second, we should create apprenticeship opportunities for folks not interested in academic pursuits. Skilled tradesmen need to be replaced and this age old approach to training new talent makes perfect sense.

Lastly, a large scale jobs program to address crumbling roads, bridges and other infrastructure needs would offer young people decent jobs and a solid start in their working life. This would boost the economy and take care of many long-neglected needs.

Most of us need a boost early in life. Many of us went into a trade program or took advantage of a much cheaper college education a generation ago. Some of us found a home in the military. Years ago we could count on these "spinnakers" to give us the boost we needed. Shouldn't we deploy some extra sails to help our kids and grandkids run with the wind.